Border crossing equals world-class steelies
British Columbia fishing map feature
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — What is it about an international border that prevents more western Washington steelheaders from pursuing winter runs on the rivers and streams of lower mainland British Columbia?
It certainly isn't distance, because several B.C. steelhead rivers lie as close to the Seattle metro area as most Columbia River tribs, and are easier to reach than the streams on the Olympic Peninsula.
It's definitely not access, because several of those same B.C. streams offer miles and miles of public bank fishing.
And it's absolutely not for lack of fish, because seasonal catch rates on some streams in the province (specifically the Chilliwack/Vedder) rival those of the mighty Cowlitz.
Yep, it has to be the border crossing. Get over it.
Get your passport, invest the $80 (Canadian!) in an annual non-tidal fishing license, stock up on floats, pink worms, jigs and yarn, and take a crash course on the steelhead culture of lower mainland B.C.
Closer than you think
Let me put it to you like this: If I drive south on I-5 from the Mercer Street exit in Seattle, I have roughly 135 miles of road ahead of me before I reach the banks of the Kalama.
If I head north from that same exit, I'm standing on the banks of the Chilliwack/Vedder after 138 miles, and I don't have to deal with the Seattle/Tacoma/ Olympia traffic cluster.
Chilliwack/Vedder River
Those tricky Canucks! If you didn't know better, you'd think that the Chilliwack and Vedder were two different drainages, but they're not.
This is actually one river with two names: it's the Chilliwack from the headwaters at Chilliwack Lake to Vedder Crossing, and the Vedder from there to the Vedder Canal, which eventually empties into the Fraser.
Whatever you call it, this system should be especially attractive to Puget Sound anglers for three reasons:
The system has several distinct personalities, and much of the fishery is influenced by five slides that can flip the clarity from steelhead green to chocolate brown overnight.
"The reality of this river is that it's totally weather related as far as its fishability is concerned," said Fred Helmer at Fred's Custom Tackle (604-858-7344) in Chilliwack.
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Fishing and Hunting News What: Two of lower mainland British Columbia's better winter steelhead rivers, the Chilliwack/Vedder and the Chehalis. Where: The Fraser River Valley, east of Vancouver. Why: There are dozens of excellent steelhead options in the lower mainland, and they're all within two to three hours of downtown Seattle. Rivers like the Chilliwack/Vedder offer some of the best bank access for steelhead in the Pacific Northwest, and they're easily reachable from Puget Sound. When: Fish began showing in early December, but the best fishing in most rivers in the Fraser Valley is in January, February, March and April Best rivers: The Chilliwack/Vedder is lower B.C.'s steelhead superstar, thanks to an excellent hatchery run. Other nearby options include the Chehalis, which is a good bet when the Chilliwack is blown out, the Fraser and the Stave. Licenses: Annual non-tidal (freshwater) license is $80 Canadian. You can buy a one-day license for $20 and an eight-day license for $50. Information: Anglers West Fly & Tackle |
"The Chilliwack Valley is made up of a lot of clay, and we have a little bit of a historical problem when we get snow followed by a Chinook and some rain."
"If that happens, the river can come up 6 to 7 feet and turn to crap. The good news is that the watershed has been worked on a lot over the past few years, to give some stabilization to some of the problem areas. But it can still change on a day-to-day basis."
Helmer's advice for Pugetropolites planning a run across the border: Check the Bellingham weather forecast the night before you plan to fish, and call his shop after hours for a recorded report of river conditions.
"We usually get Bellingham's weather about a half day later, so it's a good idea to take a quick peek at it before you come up here," he said.
"There are so many mountains and valleys in the Fraser Valley it's really hard to predict the weather, but the Bellingham forecast is usually pretty close."
When: Winter runs began filtering into the Vedder in early December, but the best fishing is yet to come: January, February and March are your best bets for hatchery fish, and you can catch winter fish well into April.
How: Floats and jigs/yarn (peach, orange, pink and light purple) or pink worms are the go-to baits here, but you can also throw spoons and spinners, drift eggs or fly fish with leech patterns.
Where: Divide the Chilliwack/ Vedder into three sections:
The best way to tackle this section — which sees the highest amount of angling pressure — is to treat it like a trout stream: "Get out and cover ground," advises Helmer.
"Fish and move on. The lower river changes every time the water comes up, but it's a fantastic place to fish. When fish first come in, it's their first stopping grounds.
They're very aggressive."
There aren't as many braided channels, and the topography is a little more restricted than the wide-open lower river.
"You're getting into a fairly adventurous part of the river there," Helmer said of the midsection.
"What you're doing there is driving up (Chilliwack Lake Road), stopping, and walking a mile or two along one section. You're bushwhacking a little, but it's not nearly as heavily fished (as the lower end).
The river narrows here through a series of canyons, where you'll find large boulders and well-established pools and pockets.
"That's more an area where you'd fish specific pockets and spots," advises Helmer.
"The elevation and gradient change a lot, but the spots don't change like they do on the lower river. The big boulders and rocks stay where they are, so you have a lot of established spots to fish."
Get there: Take I-5 north to Highway 542 in Bellingham and head north/east to Highway 9.
Head north, taking the Sumas crossing as 9 becomes Sumas Way.
From there, merge onto Provincial Route 1 East toward Hope for roughly 17 miles to the Sardis/Cultus Lake exit.
Take a slight right off the exit onto Vedder Road, which leads through Vedder Crossing.
From there, you can head upstream on Chilliwack Lake Road, or follow lower-river access roads like Peach Road, Lickman Road, the Railroad Bridge, etc.
Who to call: Fred's Custom Tackle (604-858-7344).
Chehalis River
Canada's Chehalis is 180 degrees removed from Washington's Chehalis.
Unlike the big, slow water of the Evergreen State version, the B.C. stream is defined by water that tumbles out of Chehalis Lake through several miles of rugged, narrow, rocky canyons before spilling into the Harrison.
And while the Chehalis' bank access is miniscule compared to the Vedder's, this drainage is often fishable when the Vedder is blown out.
When: January through April.
How: Floats with jigs/worms, eggs/shrimp, Corkies and yarn, blades or spoons.
Where: Easiest access lies below the upper canyon, from the hatchery on Morris Valley Road down.
Why: Upper canyon challenging. Access on Hemlock Valley. Only one road it.
Get there: Take I-5 north to Bellingham and take the Sumas crossing onto Highway 1 toward Mission.
From Mission, drive east on Highway 7 to the Hemlock Recreation Area.
Who to call: Anglers West Fly & Tackle (604-874-3474).
Material from Fishing & Hunting News
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